Usually the shorter the email, the more likely people will read it.

This email is not short. Only some of you will read it. I hope it makes a difference for the “some” -  enough of a difference to make it worth it.

This Sunday we are taking our special Christmas offering. It’s the one time of year we pray about how much more we can give beyond what we normally donate to the general fund.

Zero dollars of this offering goes to True Life Church, its ministries, its equipment, its administration costs, etc.

100% of it goes to the Great Commission Fund of the Christian & Missionary Alliance - a fund that:

• Supports missionaries reaching people in unreached parts of the world, where there is little access to the gospel message. 
• Provides relief aid in places ravaged by famine, hurricanes, persecution and other hardships.

This is a time of year when I pray for my own heart, the hearts of my wife and daughters, and the hearts of all our church family members.

Yesterday morning in my reading plan I came across 2 Corinthians 8 & 9, and SEVEN things stood out to me. SEVEN things to be praying for all of us regarding this offering.

When writing to the Corinthians about giving in an offering for the struggling church at Jerusalem, Paul starts by telling them about how generous the church in Macedonia was towards this fund-raising campaign. He is holding the Macedonian church up as an example for the Corinthian church to learn from.

2 Corinthians 8, starting in v. 1:

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.

Paul calls their generosity a “grace,” which could also be translated as “gift.” God has given them the “gift” to give even in the midst of their own hardships.

Prayer #1: I pray we would have the grace of generosity - a gift from God that leads to joyful giving.

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Then Paul says this grace led to an overflowing generosity where they gave in “their extreme poverty” (v. 2) and even “beyond their ability” (v. 3).  In other words, it cost them dearly.

Prayer #2: I pray we would give big in this offering even if some of our own financial needs seem to still be unmet.

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Thirdly, we learn they didn’t feel forced to give, but actually asked for the opportunity - the “privilege”(v. 4) - of being a part of this service to the church.

Prayer #3: I pray we would see this chance to give to God’s work around the world as a “privilege.” It’s not something we are being forced or guilted to participate in, but is an honor.

Jumping to v.9:

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Jesus gave up his riches in heaven and became poor so that we, through faith in his sacrifice, might become rich.

Prayer #4: I pray we would be motivated primarily by the amazing riches we have in Christ. Even if we’re poor by certain American standards, we are rich in Him, and that should motivate us to want others around the world to enjoy those same heavenly riches.

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Then Paul flows into chapter 9. Let’s jump to v. 6:

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Sow generously. Reap generously.  He says to give big, trusting God will give them everything they need to continue living on mission for Him.

Prayer #5: I pray we have great confidence that God will provide enough for us to continue living on mission on Him - so much confidence that we can sow generously now without the fear of lack.

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12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

Their giving will lead to others giving “many expressions of thanks to God” (v. 12) and praising God (v. 13) for their obedience.

Prayer #6: I pray that our offering will lead to people around the world fixing their eyes on the goodness of God as a result of our giving this weekend - even if we don’t know exactly how until heaven.

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My final prayer is more a summary of all of the above:

Prayer #7: Whatever each of us gives this weekend, may it flow out of joy and gratitude for what Christ has already done for us, as well as passion and excitement for what He will do for others through us.